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Fresh Summer Berry Spinach Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 103 reviews

This Fresh Summer Berry Spinach Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish perfect for warm weather. It combines tender baby spinach with a medley of sweet strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, complemented by tangy goat cheese, crunchy toasted pecans, and a zesty homemade raspberry vinaigrette. Ready in just 15 minutes, this salad is an excellent choice for a light lunch or a colorful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 1 cup strawberries, halved
  • ½ cup raspberries
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • ⅓ cup goat cheese, crumbled
  • ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped

Vinaigrette

  • 3 tbsp fresh raspberries or preserves
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil (extra virgin)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the spinach: Wash and dry the baby spinach thoroughly and place it in a large salad bowl to create the salad base.
  2. Prepare the berries: Slice the strawberries in halves or quarters as preferred, leaving the raspberries and blueberries whole for visual appeal and texture.
  3. Prepare the onions: Thinly slice the red onion. Optionally, soak the onions in cold water for 5 minutes to reduce sharpness before adding to the salad.
  4. Toast the pecans: Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Let them cool completely before adding them to the salad to maintain their crispness.
  5. Make the vinaigrette: In a bowl or blender, combine fresh raspberries or preserves, red wine vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Blend or whisk together, then slowly drizzle in olive oil while continuing to blend or whisk until the dressing is fully emulsified and smooth.
  6. Assemble the salad: Layer the baby spinach, followed by the mixed berries, thinly sliced red onions, crumbled goat cheese, and toasted pecans evenly over the top.
  7. Dress the salad: Drizzle the raspberry vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Gently toss the salad to combine all ingredients without bruising the berries.
  8. Serve immediately: Enjoy the salad fresh for optimum texture and flavor, either as a composed salad or mixed prior to serving.

Notes

  • To reduce the sharpness of red onions, soak them in cold water for 5 minutes before using.
  • For a nut-free version, omit the pecans or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
  • Use fresh or frozen berries as available; thaw frozen berries before adding.
  • Adjust sweetness of vinaigrette by varying honey or maple syrup amount.
  • This salad is best served immediately to preserve the freshness of the berries and spinach.

Keywords: summer salad, spinach salad, berry salad, fresh berry vinaigrette, goat cheese salad, healthy salad, easy salad recipe

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/fresh-summer-berry-spinach-salad-recipe/